What Travel Writers Say

Einstein's Ulm

More than 170,000 people live in the towns of Ulm and Neu-Ulm on the banks of the Danube River, but the most famous inhabitant was Albert Einstein, born in the Bahnhofstraße, located between the present-day newspaper offices and the bank. Sadly, Einstein's house and the entire district was destroyed in 1944, WWII firebombing. A small memorial is erected there, and there are many other historic sites to view including the following:

Ulm Minster, built from 1377-1891, boasts the world's tallest church steeple at 161.53 m, requiring 768 steps to ascend it. Exquisite choir stalls by Jõrg Syrlin the Elder (1469-74), and a famous sculpture, Schmerzensmann (Man of Sorrows) by Hans Multscher (1429) are featured.

The old Fischerviertel or fishermen's quarter on the River Blau, with half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and picturesque footbridges, and be sure to visit the Schiefes Haus (crooked house), a 16th-century house now employed as a hotel, as well as the Alte M&utilde;nz (Old Mint), a medieval building.

Wiblingen Abbey, a former Benedictine abbey in the suburb of Wiblingen in the south of Ulm. There are late Baroque and early Classicism influences and the library is a Rococo masterpiece.

The Rathaus or Town Hall, built in 1370, featuring brilliantly-coloured murals from the mid-16th century with an astronomical clock dating from 1520 resting on the gable.

The Krone Inn, a medieval complex of several houses housing German kings and emperors during their travels.

The historic district Auf dem Kreuz, a residential area with many buildings dated from before 1700.

Try walking the remaining section of the city walls along the river with the 14th-century Metzgerturm or butchers' tower. (36 m in height) Check out the modern Building of the Ulm School of Design and the Botanischer Garten der Universitat Ulm, the university's botanical garden. Stadthausis is a house for public events adjacent to the minster, and Stadtbibliothek is the public library erected in the form of a glass pyramid, adjacent to the town hall.
Finally, every year on the second last Monday of July, there is a big festival here called "Schwõrmontag" wherein the mayor swears a traditional oath to his people and thousands swim and party in the Danube.

Adam Southwood writes for Canadian, U.S. and European magazines and newspapers. He is a graduate of both McMaster University in Hamilton and UWO in London with an interest in culture and history. He has produced several educational programs for TV.